Effects of coronavirus on professional races

[Breezy1985]

That brings me back to something I've been wondering for a while; could ASO simply decide to scrap the final stage? The middle of Paris will probably be the place where keeping big crowds away will be hardest - unless they implement a city-wide curfew - and it's not like the final stage of the Tour will make a big difference in the GC anyway. Sure, it'll be a bit weird to have the final podium ceremony on the top of La Planche des Belles Filles, but... hell... everything about this season is weird.

If they really want to finish in Paris they could at least try limit the issues around going to Paris. Instead of riding in through the suburbs they could just do laps of the champs which would be much easier to control in terms of fans

 

[macbindle]

I see a lot of riders spitting constantly. If one of those riders is infected, it could be disaster of those around him

Droplet transmission from screaming fans might be the bigger risk. Then tired riders cooped up on a team bus at the end of the day, immune systems battered.

I must admit I didnt expect to see any GTs this year. Loving watching the Tour, and just hoping it reaches Paris. The one thing we know from February and March is that the situation can change completely in 5 days, once virus transmission grows exponentially

 

[Mayomaniac]

If stage 8 showed us anything, it is that the Tour has to completely close the roads for spectators on the big mountains.

The way it was Saturday, is just asking for riders to get infected.

Completely irresponsible by ASO, that the Corona protocols are not better.

I also believe the french police should be WAY more proactive.

Yes, I totally agree, but even the policemen didn't have their noses covered...

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Yes, I totally agree, but even the policemen didn't have their noses covered...

Yeah, it's impossible to enforce, when those enforcing do not apply the rules to themselves

 

[Nirvana]

I'm more and more convinced that in France they literally don't give a f**k about the virus, and that starting from the government, so there isn't any risk of the Tour being stopped unless something like half the peloton tests positive, just a couple of days ago when asked about the Tour the prime minister basically said that the show must go on.

I'm more concerned for the Giro because despite the way lower numbers in Italy the government is a lot strictier and at the first mountain with fans going out of control i can easily see them going mad and shutting everything down.

 

[tobydawq]

I'm more and more convinced that in France they literally don't give a f**k about the virus, and that starting from the government, so there isn't any risk of the Tour being stopped unless something like half the peloton tests positive, just a couple of days ago when asked about the Tour the prime minister basically said that the show must go on.

I'm more concerned for the Giro because despite the way lower numbers in Italy the government is a lot strictier and at the first mountain with fans going out of control i can easily see them going mad and shutting everything down.

But wouldn't the weather and later date automatically make it less likely that people would pilgrimage to the mountains? Also, if they are strict enough, they can just close off the mountain roads.

This is honestly getting a bit tiring. "Okay, so far there have been no cancellations but the NEXT race must certainly be in big, big danger."

 

[Mayomaniac]

I'm more and more convinced that in France they literally don't give a f**k about the virus, and that starting from the government, so there isn't any risk of the Tour being stopped unless something like half the peloton tests positive, just a couple of days ago when asked about the Tour the prime minister basically said that the show must go on.

I'm more concerned for the Giro because despite the way lower numbers in Italy the government is a lot strictier and at the first mountain with fans going out of control i can easily see them going mad and shutting everything down.

The Italians are actually strict enough to enforce things and fine the fans.
Yeah, that's also my impression when it comes to France, they don't even try to make people stick to the rules.

 

[search]

so there isn't any risk of the Tour being stopped unless something like half the peloton tests positive.

most definitely. I'm checking French press daily for the news from the Tour, and there has not been a single word about a potential stop of the race or anything like that over the past two weeks. It's an absolute non-issue. All those reports come from international journalists hoping for drama

 

[Ludwigzgz]

if you look at the graph "Daily Deaths"...

France Coronavirus: 2,705,618 Cases and 66,565 Deaths - Worldometer

France Coronavirus update with statistics and graphs: total and new cases, deaths per day, mortality and recovery rates, current active cases, recoveries, trends and timeline.

www.worldometers.info

... it doesn't seem like people are dying by the thousands on the streets
hysteria is sometimes the most dangerous

 

[Gargamel35]

Since Corona tests are not accurate and you can even have a virus and don't know about it, i think it would be horrible to send the whole team home because 2 team personal are positive. If that will happen, the whole TdF will loose it's credibility and winning it would mean nothing. Do you imagine leading TdF before last week and two mechanics get positive Corona result and the whole team goes home.

 

[Gargamel35]

And i also think if team is serious about winning this race, they should test their own staff every day. If one would be positive, remove him from the team/bubble and that's it. No problem for group testing any more.

 

[gregrowlerson]

if you look at the graph "Daily Deaths"...

France Coronavirus: 2,705,618 Cases and 66,565 Deaths - Worldometer

France Coronavirus update with statistics and graphs: total and new cases, deaths per day, mortality and recovery rates, current active cases, recoveries, trends and timeline.

www.worldometers.info

... it doesn't seem like people are dying by the thousands on the streets
hysteria is sometimes the most dangerous

I think what has happened is that the first wave already wiped out the majority of those who are most vulnerable. Either that, or this is a slightly different strain of the virus which is not as deadly as before.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Mads Pedersen did an interview with Danish media yesterday, he said (my paraphrased translation):

"On the teams, we have to live in bubbles and people are getting tested constantly, even when we are in the bus we need to wear masks.

Then we see the French PM, or whoever, say that he saw no problems in the pictures from the race, it's quite odd.

On the last climb there was a great deal of spectators.
Many pull down the mask when they are shouting. It makes no sense, they stand there with the mask on, but when they want to cheer, they pull it down. It's ridiculous.

Something has to be done about the barriers towards the top of climbs.
It doesn't work that people can stand close to us and shout into our heads with 1 k to the top."

- Maybe the problem is, that nobody cheered when the French PM came by?

 

[Luthor]

So do we know at what hour the results will be published and if that press conference can be seen on a stream?

 

[postmanhat]

I think what has happened is that the first wave already wiped out the majority of those who are most vulnerable. Either that, or this is a slightly different strain of the virus which is not as deadly as before.

Other factors are that it's mostly young people getting it now, we're better at treating it, and hugely increased testing.

In The UK we're at about 3000 cases a day. In April, that led to about 1000 deaths 3 weeks later. Now, it will be much less than a 100, probably more like 30.

 

[seedupd]

Only a miracle will save the fact that at least one team get out of the race tomorrow

from stage 8

http://imgur.com/qiX6Hsy

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http://imgur.com/E10OPGF

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http://imgur.com/hkaI54X

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http://imgur.com/4J2air1

View: https://i.imgur.com/4J2air1.png

http://imgur.com/g4TevK0

View: https://i.imgur.com/g4TevK0.png

http://imgur.com/og2DfTo

View: https://i.imgur.com/og2DfTo.png

http://imgur.com/ezhWer8

View: https://i.imgur.com/ezhWer8.png

http://imgur.com/4cMML3g

View: https://i.imgur.com/4cMML3g.png

http://imgur.com/NPqhKRX

View: https://i.imgur.com/NPqhKRX.png

 

[search]

well, it's not like it jumps from one person to each other that easily. In Germany for example the official Corona app only notifies you of a potential threat when you stayed within 1.5m of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.

Sure, it would be better if they were wearing their masks properly, but the risk of getting infected this way is still minimal.

 

[seedupd]

well, it's not like it jumps from one person to each other that easily. In Germany for example the official Corona app only notifies you of a potential threat when you stayed within 1.5m of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.

Sure, it would be better if they were wearing their masks properly, but the risk of getting infected this way is still minimal.

I think german corona app is a bad reference. Obviously more time more risk, so minimal risk is still risk. realistic risk? in this case i think YES.

 

[BlueRoads]

Yes, they should definitely wear their masks and not come that close and the police/ state should have done much more to prevent situations like these, I could hardly believe what I saw, but I think the risk is still very low. It's not like 10% of France are infected and if they are they do not necessarily transfer the virus, though I have to admit shouting directly into someones face sounds like your best shot to infect anyone outdoors.

 

[tobydawq]

well, it's not like it jumps from one person to each other that easily. In Germany for example the official Corona app only notifies you of a potential threat when you stayed within 1.5m of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.

Sure, it would be better if they were wearing their masks properly, but the risk of getting infected this way is still minimal.

Also, and this seems like it is an unknown factoid to many, those people have to be infected themselves in order to be able to infect others...

 

[lenric]

And i also think if team is serious about winning this race, they should test their own staff every day. If one would be positive, remove him from the team/bubble and that's it. No problem for group testing any more.

Even though I agree with this, the tests have a fairly high rate of false positives.

 

[search]

Even though I agree with this, the tests have a fairly high rate of false positives.

no, they don't. And everyone who tests positive during the Tour gets tested a 2nd time first, making it almost impossible to be thrown out because of a "false positive"

 

[Sciatic]

well, it's not like it jumps from one person to each other that easily. In Germany for example the official Corona app only notifies you of a potential threat when you stayed within 1.5m of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.

Sure, it would be better if they were wearing their masks properly, but the risk of getting infected this way is still minimal.

I agree that the risk of riders catching the virus from fans is minimal. However, I’m guessing the “1.5 m for 15 min” needed for probable transmission calculation did NOT take into account the circumstance of one person screaming at the top of their lungs directly into the face of another person (the rider), who at that moment are gulping in every molecule of air they can possibly get into their lungs! Certainly doesn’t sound ideal if you’re trying to stay healthy!

 

[Luthor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1303059922507231232

View: https://twitter.com/jaytay/status/1303059922507231232

Well..this doesn't look good

 

[Fergoose]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1303059922507231232

View: https://twitter.com/jaytay/status/1303059922507231232

Well..this doesn't look good

Yes. ITV said it is a mixture of rider and backroom staff/race support staff, but that they are only repeating rumours (although they do sound confident in what they are saying). Results to be announced tomorrow.

Whatever your opinion on the validity of the rules, to not cover your face while screaming support for riders or refusing to wear a mask (as Nans Peters reportedly did for his stage victory interview) is the height of idiocy for someone who cares about the sport.